Vo-Tech Students Attend FABTECH

Pictured above are Dillan Schetrompf, Mellott representative Jonas Smith, Blayne Hill, Dylan Hoffman, Cody Grubb, Stanton Souders, Derrick Mellott and Elisa Ramsey, along with American Welding Society Director at Large Dean Wilson and three models in the center.
North America’s largest metal forming, fabricating, finishing and welding event, FABTECH, hosted six Fulton County Vo-Tech welding students at the Georgia World Congress Center recently. According to the FABTECH Web site, the annul event had 22,000 visitors and more than 1,000 exhibiting companies covering more than 350,000 net square feet of floor space.

On the first day students toured the show, talked to exhibitors and had an opportunity to operate new equipment. One floor show was production and manufacturing exhibitors and the other demonstrated fabrication and welding.

On the second day, students learned bout new helmet functions, designs and safety features. Students were introduced to AWS Section 7 director Don Howard, who discussed his background in underwater welding and explained a project occurring in the Bahamas. He then introduced the group to the past AWS President Ernest D. Levert, who presented to students his career path. Levert grew up in the Chicago ghettoes and learned to weld in a vocational program in high school, then headed to boot camp. In the Navy, he welded onboard the ship. He went on to become an engineer and graduated Ohio State with 18 job offers, then ended up working on jet, rocket and space shuttle engine components at Lockheed-Martin, where he developed an advanced welding process called electron beam welding.

The group was later introduced to director at large Dean R. Wilson, who presented the group with shade 3 safety glasses and treated the students to lunch. Paul Sr., from the television show “American Chopper,” unveiled a new motorcycle for ESAB, the world’s largest manufacturer of plasma cutters, welding equipment and welding consumables. Students got to meet Paul Sr. and learn about lasers and laser etching.

On day three students benefitted from attending the manufacturing and education conference, where three young professionals presented their career stories.

The students raised more than $1,000 for the opportunity to attend FABTECH. All agreed that this was an exciting and educational experience. Elise Ramsey, votech welding instructor, said this is the second year Fulton County Vo- Tech has participated in the AWS chapter and that members hope to fundraise to attend the 2011 event in Chicago.